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Preparing for the Transplant | Kidney

Pretransplant tests, in addition to giving a clear picture of your overall health, help identify potential problems before they occur. They also help determine whether transplantation is your best option. This increases the likelihood of success.

The following tests help evaluate the health status of your kidneys and related structures:

• Renal function studies — Your doctor may ask you to collect your urine (usually for 24 hours) to evaluate if your kidneys are working properly. Blood tests such as serum creatinine are performed to measure kidney function.
• Ultrasound with Doppler examination — Determines the quality of the blood vessels in around the kidneys.
• Renal biopsy — Evaluates a little piece of tissue from you kidney.

General pretransplant medical tests include:

Physical exam Chest x-ray Complete medical and surgical history Blood tests – These tests include blood count, blood and tissue type, blood chemistries, and immune system function. Your blood will also be checked for certain infectious diseases Blood typing – Every person is a blood type A, B, AB or O. Your blood will be checked to determine if it is compatible with the recipient Pulmonary function test — These tests show how well you lungs are working Upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopies – These evaluations can detect abnormalities of your esophagus, stomach, and intestine Tissue typing – Your white blood cells will be tested for special "markers" that distinguish "tissue type" needed to match the transplanted organ

Panel Reactive Antibody (PRA) — This is one way of measuring the activity of your immune system (higher PRA means your are making more antibodies) Viral testing — Blood tests can reveal if you have been exposed to hepatitis, Epstein-Barr (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) — Asseses the electrical activity within your heart Echocardiogram — Sonar-type echos can show abnormalities in the heart Tests for osteoporosis — Screening for osteoporosis may be ordered by DEXA scan or other means Mammogram — Breast x-rays to look for signs of breast cancer in women Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate exams — To screen for prostate cancer in men Dental Examinations Other tests — Your doctor may order other tests as well